Chapter 2339 - 2339

Right after Liu Zhizhong's name appeared on the provincial city training list, it only took a couple of days for Gu Yan to pass Dongnan City's civil service exam, securing the third place in the same category.

This time, her goal is the office position at the City Culture and Tourism Bureau, specifically working with document and information management. The bureau plans to hire four people. When the written exam scores were announced, 10 people made it to the interview round. Surprisingly, there were as many as 100 applicants. Sigh... who doesn't want a stable job in these chaotic times, right?

Next, of course, Gu Yan has to go through the interview, which is scheduled for the second Saturday morning after the written scores are released.

This interview required Zhang Xiaoyang to work some magic. Despite Gu Yan's reluctance for her brother-in-law to get involved, Gu Man insisted Zhang Xiaoyang should handle it.

And Zhang Xiaoyang, eager to please his sister-in-law, confidently reassured them that there would be no problem at all.

After all, within Dongnan City, it's the Zhang Family's word that counts, right?

Nevertheless, Zhang Xiaoyang carefully prepared, making sure to speak with all five interviewers.

Among the five interviewers, four were easily dealt with, one from the City's Staffing Office, one from the City Organization Department, one from the Publicity Department, and a female professor from the Southeast Normal University's Department of Public Administration.

The last one, unexpectedly, was Liu Zhizhong.

Zhang Xiaoyang effortlessly managed the first four. They assured him they would adjust the scoring accordingly, ensuring Gu Yan could secure a position.

As for Liu Zhizhong, well... he received instructions from the director to be an interviewer. Yet, he never got the list of candidates, as per the rules.

Regardless, Liu Zhizhong communicated with Gu Yan, asking about her written score and thus had an idea.

Certainly, out of professional duty, he didn't explicitly say he was the interviewer or that he would favor her.

Liu Zhizhong merely stated that he hoped Gu Yan would prepare well and that she would definitely pass the interview.

Gu Yan, on the other hand, was quite candid about Zhang Xiaoyang's involvement. It's not that she lacked confidence, but she had to accept this backdoor assistance.

Liu Zhizhong said nothing much, simply agreed, and dismissed the matter.

But not even half a day after ending contact with Gu Yan, Zhang Xiaoyang called.

Liu Zhizhong thought it was about something else, but unexpectedly, Zhang Xiaoyang directly stated, "Director Liu, I got the list."

"Huh? What list?" Liu Zhizhong was genuinely bewildered.

"Isn't your Culture and Tourism Bureau hiring three this time? I have the interview list and the interviewer list."

"Oh... County Head Zhang certainly has great influence, but what has it to do with me?"

Liu Zhizhong seemed to grasp something.

"Stop pretending; you're one of the interviewers, right?"

"Work protocol; no comment."

Zhang Xiaoyang paused, then chuckled wryly, "Haha, Director Liu, you're really amusing. Let's just say, Gu Yan ranked third in the written exam; you need to ensure she ends up being one of the four final candidates. Her score shouldn't be too high or too low. That's my demand, and it's your responsibility."

Instantly, Liu Zhizhong was fuming inside.

You're meddling in city-level exams, well that's your Zhang Family privilege. Who in Dongnan can curb that? But to order me around with that tone, who can bear it?

Yet Liu Zhizhong calmly remarked, "County Head Zhang, what you're saying is quite difficult with so many interviewees. How can I ensure that? Who knows if there are other nepotistic ties among them? If you'd like, maybe you should just be the interviewer yourself."

Zhang Xiaoyang laughed again and said, "Alright, no need for nonsense! You, Liu Zhizhong, are a smart man; I know you understand how to proceed. Recently, you've been quite lucky, making money with gold and, like me, received an opportunity for promotional training in the provincial city."

"Don't bring up gold, okay?"

Liu Zhizhong's implication was, I've accepted the unspeakable loss, haven't mentioned it, and yet you, Zhang Xiaoyang, have the gall to bring it up?

Feigning ignorance, Zhang Xiaoyang continued, "Director Liu, what's that about? Can't we talk about gold? A while back, gold prices soared; didn't you make a fortune?"

"Do you honestly not know, or are you pretending not to? There was adulteration in the gold your family sold to my company; you didn't know?"

"Huh? This…"

Genuinely startled, Zhang Xiaoyang didn't feign this time, "What nonsense are you talking? The Zhang Family acts uprightly; how could we sell you fake gold?"

"No…"

Liu Zhizhong was also taken aback, realizing the other party might not be feigning, "You seriously didn't know?"

Annoyed, Zhang Xiaoyang slammed his desk, producing a loud, fierce sound, "If I knew but pretended not to, may lightning strike me five times! Alright? What exactly happened?"

With lingering doubts, Liu Zhizhong narrated the gold incident.

Listening to the story, Zhang Xiaoyang was equally stunned, almost unable to believe it.

Though his mind quickly shifted, he said, "Regarding this gold issue, I truly didn't know, but I'll investigate. But you knew something was wrong, why didn't you speak up and confront the Zhang Family?"

Liu Zhizhong calmly concluded, "Regardless, I still gained some profit, just less than expected. I profited beyond my principal, so dwelling on this or challenging the Zhang Family would just be pointless."

"Uh…"

Taking Liu Zhizhong's earnest demeanor in, Zhang Xiaoyang was momentarily baffled, then burst into uproarious laughter, "Hahaha…"

"Oh Liu Zhizhong, haha, you finally figured things out, huh? You realize the Zhang Family's influence in the Southeast now? Feel humbled?"

"If there's nothing else, I'll end the call; I've got plenty of work awaiting."

"Go, go, attend to your business! About Gu Yan's interview, handle it as you see fit; now that you're enlightened, keep this enlightenment going, got it?"

"I don't need your advice."

Liu Zhizhong was quite displeased!

Being dictated, manipulated as others wish, of course, someone like Liu Zhizhong in this situation wouldn't be happy.

Men's dignity is paramount.

The dignity of an official is even more crucial!

After all, Liu Zhizhong is some kind of leader, right? Being squeezed by an adversary like this, who can tolerate it?

Liu Zhizhong doesn't care about the losses concerning gold, but in Gu Yan's matter, he's dissatisfied and doesn't wish to comply with Zhang Xiaoyang's arrangements. Anyway, as Zhang Xiaoyang has dealt with the other interviewers, there's nothing left for him here.

Thus, Liu Zhizhong devised a plan, directly approached the director, requesting another interviewer be arranged as he wanted out.